Steam-superheater.



J. S. NICHOLS.

STEAM SUPERHEATER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov, I3. 1914.

3,235,368. Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

mowwtoz Jamas STZVZc/ma J. S. NICHOLS.

STEAM SUPERHEATER.

APPLICATION FILVED NOV. I3. I914.

Patented July 31, 1917.

James fifizZ/wQ JAMES S. NICHOLS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

STEAM-SUPERHEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 871,930.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James S. NIoHoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Superheaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam superheaters, and more especially to those of the type adapted for use in connection with 10- comotive steam boilers or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a superheater wherein either saturated or superheated steam may be used as the motive fluid, as occasion may require, and when superheated steam is being used as the motive fluid, the same may be throttled as required and a suitable amount of saturated steam may be admitted to the engine to provide for lubrication of the pistons or other working parts of the engine as may be necessary from time to time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a superheater which will not only realize the benefits and advantages derived from superheaters as heretofore or at present used, but which will obviate the defects or disadvantages found to exist in such superheaters, a circulation of steam being maintained continuously in the superheater, irrespective of whether or not superheated steam is being used'in the engine, thus providing a supply of superheated steam which is ready for immediate use, avoiding the development of excessive pressure in the superheater and overheating or burning out of the superheater, and to provide a throttle valve for the superheated steam Which will insure positive and immediate control of the locomotive.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby saturated steam may pass from the dome directly to the cylinders, or from the dome through the crown sheet into the fire-box and thence passing through a super-heater in the boiler flues to the cylinder, and steam may be generated in a water chamber in the fire-box. The steam so generated passes thence to a steam chamber within the fire-box, and the steam then passes from the steam chamber through superheater units in the boiler fiues, valves being provided for appropriately 'controlling the steam following these courses.

Another object of the invention is to provide means within the fire-box of the boiler for increasing the steam generating power and efficiency of the boiler, such means comprising a water chamber exposed to the.-

high temperature in the fire-box and connected to circulate therethrough water from the boiler, such water in consequence having its temperature raised to generate steam, a portion of which steam passes to the steam dome and the remainder of which steam passes to a steam chamber and from thence to superheater units in the boiler fines, and also a steam generating chamber connected to receive water from the boiler and convert the same into steam to augment the steam passing to the superheater units in the fiues. Also, if desired, means may be provided for circulating hot gases from the fire-box interiorly through one of the water chambers within the fire-boxto increase the heating effect on the water therein, and a portion of the steam generated in the water chambers in the fire-box may be subjected to the heating effect of such hot gases whereby such steam is superheated.

The present invention also provides a firebox superheater connected to receive steam "from the steam dome and operative to initially superheat such steam in the fire-box and to discharge such steam into a superheater in one or more of the boiler flues, this fire-box superheater increasing to the desired extent the amount of superheated steam obtainable from the boiler as conditions may require.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a superheater of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction and capable of being readily and inexpensively installed Within a locomotive or boiler of any ordinary type to increase the efficiency thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a locomotive boiler showing, in side elevation, a superheater constructed in accordance with the invention in stalled therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the boiler and the superheater.

Fig. 3 represents a transverse section lid through the boileron the 3-.3 of Fig 1 and looking forward,

Fig. l represents a transverse section on the line tl of Fig. l and looking toward the rear.

. Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and looking toward the rear.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the steam controlling valve box, the same being shown broken away to illustrate in detail the valve for controlling the course of the superheated steam. w 7

Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section through the steam controlling valve box.

Fig. 8 represents a vertical section of the steam controlling valve box. 7

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, A designates generally a locomotive boiler comprising the flue barrel B, the fire-box C, the smoke-box D, from which latter rises the smoke-stack E, and F represents the usual steam dome from which leads the steam pipe G, as usual, for conveying saturated steam to the steam controlling box H, the steam distributing pipes 1 extending from the outlet of the latter to the steam chests of the locomotive. lhe saturated steam supply pipe G is provided with a throttle valve J, which may be of the type ordinarily used for saturated steam and operated as usual from the cap of the locomotive for controlling the supply of saturated steam from the boiler to the locomotive or engine cylinders.

.Accordin to the present invention, the relatively high temperature within the the box or the hottest part of the boiler is utilized materially in the generation of superheated steam. ln the construction shown in the present instance, a shell 10 is arranged within the fire-box C of the boiler above the part thereof occupied by the fire, and this shell.l0 contains a relatively smaller annular inner shell ll-formed with a partition 12 dividin steam chambers 13 and 1%, respectively. The space between the outer shell 10 and the innor shell 11 constitutes a water circulating and steam generating chamber 15 which receives water from the water space of the boiler through pipes 34 connected to the water leg of the boiler and returns the water and some steam generated therein to the boiler by the tubes 17 which extend from the top of the outer shell 10 through the crown sheet 18 into the water space 16 of the boiler. The tubes 17 are shown as projecting above the crown sheet 18 to prevent entrance of sediment orforeign matter to the outer shell 10 from the boiler.

Another steam generating unit is also shown in the fire-box, it being arranged be it into independent hot air and instant tween the forward end of the outer shell 10 v and the rear tube sheet 19. As shown, it comprises a shell 20 and an inner shell 22,

I pipes 21 providing communication between the water circulating and steam generating chamber 15 and the space between the outer and inner shells 20 and 22, respectively. Pipes 23 extend through the'pipes 21 and provide communication between the steam chamber is and the interior of the inner shell 22. Arranged within the hot air chamber 13 of the inner shell 11 is a steam superheating coil 24 having its inlet end 25 connected with a steam collecting manifold 26, which latter is connected to a steam collecting manifold 27, the respective branches 28 and 29 of the latter communicating with the steam generating chamber 15 of the shell 10 and the steam generating space between the outer and inner shells 20 and 22, respectively. The outlet end of the steam coil 2% is extended through one of the pipes 21 and connected to the inner shell 22 to discharge steam into the interior of this shell. The a manifold 26 is also provided with a branc pipe 30 which leads to the steam chamber 14,

in the inner shell '11 whereby steam collected in the manifold 26 passes into the steam chamber 14: and from thence through the pipes 23 into the inner steam-containing shell 22; The space between the outer and inner shells 20 and 22 is connected to receive water from the boiler through the pipes 35, the water being heated in this space to generate steam, which steam, as stated, is collected in the manifolds 26 and 27 and is eventually conducted by the con-- nections above described into the interior of the inner shell 22.

Superheating of the steam passing through the coil 24 is efiected in the present instance by heated gasesfrom the fire-box which enter a funnel 31 and flow by a pipe 32 into the hot gas chamber 13 containing the coil, and after circulating around this lid chamber 13, the. gases discharge througli an outlet pipe 33 which discharges at the rear of the boiler. The circulation of heated gases through the chamber 13 is induced by the vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressure at the outlet end of the pipe 33 during forward travel of the locomotive, and short-circuiting of the incoming and outgoing gases in the chamber 13 may be prevented by a partition 13 located in the chamber 13 between the inlet and outlet pipes 32 and 33, re

longitudinally in the lines from the inner shell 22 in the fire-box to the superheated,

steam collecting box '38 in the smoke-box. in order to protect the steam superheater pipes adjacent to the fire-box from burning, or injury from excessive heat, water-contaming sleeves 36 may be provided to inclose the rear portions of the superheater pipes 37 these sleeves being shown connected to receivewater from the space between the outer and inner shells 20 and 22, and they pr0-,

ject for a suitabledistance into the ues in protective relation with the steam superheater pipes 37. Steam generated in these. sleeves 36 is also collected in the manifolds maintaining a constant circulation of steam through the superheater, and when the locomotive or engine is usingsuperheated steam as motive fluid, such steam may be throttled as conditions may require and saturated steam may be admitted to the cylinders of the engine at appropriate times or intervals to provide them with moisture to effect the necessary lubrication without, however, interfering with the supply of superheated steam as motive power. An example of a valve mechanism capable of performing these functions is shown in the present instance, the supply of saturated steam to the engine being controlled by the individual throttle J, the pipe G conducting the saturated steam from said throttle to a compartment H in communication with the cyliuder supply pipes I.

The superheated steam collecting box 38 receives superheated steam from the superheated steam pipes 37, and it contains a valve casing 40 having a port 41 which opens into the box H. Cooperative with the casing 40 is a rotary valve plug 42 formed with a steam port or channel 43 which communicates with the superheated steam collecting box 38 and which is adapted to communicate more or less with the port 41 whenthe valve plug 42 is rotated into one position, thereby throttling the supply of superheated steamto the cylinders. A The steam port 43 extends through the upper end of the-valve plug to maintain return communication between the superheated steam collecting box 38 and the boiler through the agency of a return pipe 44 which is connected with the upper end of the casing containing the valve plug and discharges into the upper part of v the dome F. The valve plug 42 may be operated-to throttle the supply of superheated steam to the cylinders by any suitable means, a controlling rod 45 being shown in the present instance which extends into the cab of the locomotive to be manually operated at the will of the engineer, as conditions may require.

The present invention also provides means whereby an additional supply of superheated steam of any amount as may be required is produced. Such means comprises a suitable number of steam superheater units in the fire-box connected to receive saturated steam from the steam space of the boiler and connected to supply the steam superheated thereby to the superheated steam collecting box 38. e

In the present instance, a saturated steam supply pipe 46 leads from the dome to a steam superheater-unit 47 which is located within the fire-box, superheated steam passing from the superheater unit 47 through a super-heater unit 37 in one of the boiler.

flues and finally reaching the superheated steam collecting box 38 to be either used in the engine or returned to the dome, according to the position occupied by the superheater steam controlling-valve.

The shell 20 connected with the shell 10 is disposed in the fire-box at an angle so as to' be on a forward incline to serve as a bafile for receiving the shock of draft from the shell 10 and thereby act as a shield'to the boiler flues, protecting them from the in tense heat of the draft induced through the This shell 20 also serves as a means for retarding the cinders and products of combustion to return the same to the fire so that the maximum heat units may be obtained from the fuel consumed.

In the operation of the locomotive, saturated steam from the steam dome F is adconcurrently with superheated steam to pro-.

vide the necessary lubrication for the engine cylinders. To admit superheated steam to the cylinders, the rod 45 is actuated to rotate the valve plug 42 into a position where the steam port 43 in the plug communicates with the port 41 to a degree according to the amount -ofsuperheated steam required,steam flowing from the steam dome F through pipe 46 into the steam superheater 47 wherein it is superheated, thence through the superheater pipes 37" to the superheated steam collecting box 38, and finally discharging through the port 41 to the engine cylinders. This supply of superheated steam is inaddition to the supply of superheated steam derived from the shell 22 for this purpose. The steam in the chamber 14 and in the coil 24 isgenerated by the heating of the water contained in thechamberand the space between the shells and 22, the generation thereof occurring in the steam manifold 26, whence it is conveyed through branches and into the coil 2d and said chamber 14:, the steam then flowing into the shell 22 and from the latter into the steam superheating pipes 37, the superheated steam so obtained then entering the superheated steam collecting box 38.

ll it is desired to mix saturated steam with the superheated steam, the throttle valve J is opened, which permits saturated steam from the dome F to pass into box id and thence to the engine cylinders, the superheated steam being delivered to the engine cylinders under the control of its individual throttle valve- 42 and, hence, the supply of motive fluid to the engine cylinders is not interfered with when it is desired to introduce saturated steam for lubricating purposes.

When superheated steam is not being used in the engine cylinders, the valve plug 42 is in a position to close the port l1, and the superheated steam will then be returned to the dome l through the return pipe l l where it again becomes condensed, thus insuring complete, continuous circulation of steam through the superheater system to protect the same from inj ury, irrespective of whether or not superheated steam is being used. lnasmuch as the port l3 of the superheated steam controlling valve is in communication with the steam domie of the boiler, any excess steam generated in the superb-eater system, or any superheated steam in excess of that iiowing to the outlet,

will be returned to the boiler, thus obviating the necessity of providing a safety or relief valve to prev nt the development or" encessive pressure in the superheater system and avoiding the consequent waste of energy and water.

The present invention increases the steam power of the boiler and effects an increased economy in water and fuel consumption by utilizing to a great extent the high temperature of the fire-box and by eiiiciently superheating the steam. The water heating and steam generating means within the tirebox utilize the highest temperatures of combustion to raise the temperature of the water in the boiler as a whole and particularly to generate steamfor superheating. By initially superheating the steam in the fire-box or the hottest part of the boiler and then conductin the superheated steam in a direction away from the hottest part of the boiler,

a natural flow or superheated steam is induced and such circulation is maintained through the superheater system, not only while superheated steam is being supplied to the engine cylinders, but also while the flow of superheated steam to the engine cylinders is oil and the superheated masses is returned to the boiler. This maintained circulation of steam through the superheater system will not only hold the superheater structure at a temperature that will insure the same against burning or overheating, but it also provides a supply of superheated steam that is ready for immediate use in the engine cylinders when the superheated steam controlling valve is set to direct the superheated steam to the engine cylinders.

I claim as my invention l. The combination with a steam boiler having a smoke-box, of a superheater embodying a superheated steam chamber located in the smoke-box and connected to receive superheated steam from the superheater, means for conducting superheated steam from said chamber to the boiler and also from said chamber to an outlet for use, and means located in said chamber connected to receive superheated steam and operative to direct such steam from said-chamber to the boiler, said means bein also operative to direct and throttle'the ow of superheated steam from said chamber to said outlet.

2. The combination with a steam boiler having a smoke-box, of a superheater embodying superheater units and a header located in the smoke-box and connected to receive superheated steam from said units,

.means for conducting superheated steam from said header to the boiler and also from said header to an outlet for use, and a valve located within said header and operative to direct superheated steam from said header to the boiler and out 0d the same from said outlet, said valves being also operative to direct and throttle the flow of superheated steam from said header to said outlet.

3. The combination with a steam boiler, of a superheater embodying superheater units and a header connected to receive superheated steam from said units, and means located within said header comprising a single valve capable of maintaining a circuhaving a smoke-box, of a superheater including means for initially generating superheated steam in a relatively hotter portion or tn boiler, and a superheated steam collecting chamber located in the smoke-box which is ofa relatively lower temperature, and means comprising a single valve for directing superheated steam from the superheated steam collecting chamber to an outlet for use and for returning superheated steam from said collecting chamber to the boiler.

6. The combination with a steam boiler having a fire-box and a smoke-box, of a superheater having a portion thereof arranged in the fire-box to initially generate superheated stem therein, and a superheated steam collecting chamber located in the smoke-box, and means for directing superheated steam from said collecting chamber to an outlet for use and for returning superheated steam from said collecting chamber to the boiler.

7. The combination with a steam boiler having a smoke-box, of a steam superheater including a superheated steam collecting chamber located in the smoke-box, and means located in the superheated steam collecting chamber and operative at will to throttle the flow of superheated steam from said chamber to an outlet for use and for returning superheated steam from said chamber to the boiler.

8. The combination with a steam boiler having a smoke-box, of a steam superheater including a superheated steam collecting header located in the smoke-box, and a valve located in the header for directing and throttling superheated steam from said header to an outlet for use and for returning superheated steam from said header to the boiler to maintain a circulation of superheated steam through the superheater when the flow of superheated steam to the outlet is cut 0d.

9. The combination with a steam boiler, of a superheater embodying superheater units and a superheated steam collecting header, and a throttle valve located within said header for directing superheated steam from the header into an outlet for use as motive power, said valve being also operative to partially or wholly out oh the flow of superheated steam to the outlet and to return such steam from the header to the boiler.

10. The combination with a steam boiler, of a-steam superheater having a steam distributing chamber connected to an outlet,

means for throttling the How of superheated steam from the superheater to said distributing chamber and for returning superheated steam from the superheater to the boiler, and means for admitting saturated steam to said distributing chamber while superheated steam is being returned to the boiler.

chamber connected to receive superheated steam from the superheater, a superheated steam throttling and controlling valve operative to direct superheated steam from t e superheater to said chamber and also to return superheated steam to the boiler, and a saturated steam throttle operative to throttle and control the flow of saturated steam from the boiler to said distributing chamber.

12. The combination with a steam boiler having a fire-box and flues extending therefrom, of a water chamber contained within the fire-box and connected to receive water from the boiler and to discharge the water heated in said chamber into the space in the boiler above the crown sheet thereof, a steam chamber arranged opposite to the fire-box ends of the flues and protected from the fire in the fire-box by said water chamber, and steam superheater units connected to receive steam from said steam chamber and extending forwardly therefrom in the lines.

13. The combination with a steam boiler having a fire-box, of a water chamber contained within the fire-box and connected to receive water from the boiler, a steam chamber protected from the fire in the fire-box by said water chamber and having connections for conducting steam therefrom, and super- 1 heater units leading from said steam chamber.

14. The combination with a steam boiler having a fire-box, of a water chamber contained within the fire-box and connected to the boiler to circulate boiler water therethrough, and a steam chamber contained within and protected by said water chamber and connected to receive steam and to discharge steam therefrom.

15. The combination with a steam boiler having a lire-box and flues leading therefrom, of a water chamber arranged within the fire-box opposite to the fire-box ends of said fiues and connected tc receive water from the boiler, a steam chamber arranged to be protected from the fire in the fire-box by said water chamber and connected to receive and discharge steam, and superheater units in the boiler fiues connected to receive steam from said steam chamber. I

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

H. W. Reese, R. H. Es'rns. 

